BNP Acting Chairman Tariq Rahman's birthday today. He was born on this day (November 20) in 1967. One of the youngest prisoners in 1971. He has been living in exile in London since 2008. There was no talk of his return to the country in the past years. However, after the fall of the Awami League government in the student uprising this year, the issue of Tariq Rahman's return to the country was discussed at the highest level of the party. In this case, political calculations and the position of the government also play a role.
BNP's top leader Tariq Rahman has banned any kind of organization on his own behalf. Official press releases from the team have been issued twice. But why BNP has to be strict in celebrating the party's top leader's birthday? Several leaders believe that a vested interest is conducting 'money-related' activities around the top leader's birthday. Money is withdrawn from activists. In the past, such allegations have been raised at the highest levels of the party.
Talking to Bengali Tribune on Tuesday night, a source mentioned, 'In the name of such events, a kind of political activist in Bangladesh collects money from the party and its supporters. If this is the case then it will create a negative image. That's why he (Tareq Rahman) has been strict, especially in activities that can create a negative image.'
In a workshop held on BNP's 31 points on Tuesday, Tariq Rahman also refused to use the words 'Deshanayak', 'Rashtanayak' before his name. Party leaders have been instructed not to use these two adjectives before their names.
Some of the party think that there is a political message behind it. Especially the delay or uncertainty of Begum Khaleda Zia and her foreign travel; And lastly on Tuesday night the invitation letter was officially sent to the chairperson of BNP by the army.
Some of the political workers and observers talking to this reporter said that there is an attempt to establish Tariq Rahman's political image within the BNP. In this case, some people think that there can be a positive impact on the civil society as well.
When asked about this, BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan told Bangla Tribune, 'The acting chairman is in a positive position overall and is playing a role. He believes that the welfare of the country must bring about qualitative change, there is no alternative to a positive stance'.
After becoming the acting chairman of the party in 2018, Tariq Rahman made the meeting of the standing committee based on a specific agenda. Even though he took various decisions individually, he used to hold discussions with senior leaders first.
Barrister Zamir Uddin Sarkar, a senior member of the party's standing committee, commented, 'Tareek Rahman is playing an extraordinary role in the leadership of the party. Discussing and making decisions. A man of my age is also in the committee, talking, giving opinions.'
After coming to power in 2001, new controversies arose after BNP made the cabinet with Jamaat. During this coalition government, the then Moin-Fakhruddin government filed a case involving Tariq Rahman in various cases including ten truck weapons case, August 12 grenade attack. Even at that time the 'Hawa Bhavan' controversy started.
According to BNP, 'after the illegal seizure of power by military rulers supported by Awami League in 2007, retaliatory measures were taken against Tariq Rahman.'
After going to London in November 2008 for treatment, he became active in politics. Since 2018, he has basically handled the main organizational leadership of the party alone. This time after the fall of the government, BNP leaders and activists were expelled from the party on various charges including extortion, harassment, encroachment. BNP has extended financial support to the affected people in some places.
Meanwhile, under the banner of BNP family, Tariq Rahman's financial support is being given to those killed and injured, under treatment, victims of the coup. Nobel laureate Dr. Tariq Rahman has started the preparations for the 13th National Parliament elections to be held under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. He is already emphasizing on voting in various events.
In an event on Tuesday, he said, 'If the economic and political liberation of the people is not there, then none of the reforms we do will be useful. Political emancipation is accountability to the people. Whatever one wishes, it will not happen. Be it government party, opposition party, MP, minister, it has to be answered to the people. To ensure this, the right to vote must be established.' Accountability is created through voting, said the Acting Chairman of BNP.
Tariq Rahman emphasized on factual and issues that make people interested in voting. He told the activists to join the courtyard meeting. At the same time, the party has called the farmers' rally in the unions across the country in the three-month program.
Tariq Rahman spoke publicly about his birthday and using adjectives before his name in connection with the party. Even though November 20 is a birthday, there is a ban on celebrating it party-wise. Besides, he said in a training workshop of Dhaka Division, 'As a colleague, I have a request, as your leader, please do not use my name as Desnayak, Rashtranayak from today.'
Tariq Rahman served as senior vice chairman and senior joint secretary of the party before acting chairman.
Tariq Rahman's childhood has been extended in the political and military environment since the freedom struggle. He is known by the family name 'Pino'. On May 16, 1971, he escaped from Chittagong when he went to Narayanganj with the help of mother Khaleda Zia, brother Arafat Rahman Koko and another associate.
In the book titled 'Nandit Netri Khaleda Zia' written by senior journalist Syed Abdal Ahmed, recalling May 16, 1971, Tarek Rahman Pino said, '.. the launch left in the morning and arrived at Narayanganj Ghat in the evening. We didn't cry on the way. I was enjoying the gurgling sound of the river, the sound of the launch, and the occasional rocking of the launch.'
Tareq is a witness and participant in political ups and downs. He, his mother and brother, along with the family members of many other freedom fighter military officers, were arrested during the armed struggle by former late President Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, one of the sector commanders of the freedom struggle. He was one of the youngest prisoners to be imprisoned.
According to BNP party sources, after completing his primary studies at BAF Shaheen College in Dhaka, Tariq Rahman was admitted to the International Relations Department of Dhaka University in the 1980s.
During the anti-Ershad movement, he joined the Rajpath movement with his mother and joined the BNP in 1988 as an ordinary member of the party's Gabtali upazila unit. He mobilized people from the grassroots and contributed to the downfall of HM Ershad's government.
Before the 1991 elections, he campaigned in almost every district of the country with his mother Begum Khaleda Zia and won the elections. His mother Begum Zia was elected the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
He initiated the process of electing leaders from the grassroots in Bogra, where he was an executive member of the BNP wing. In 1993, he organized a conference in Bogra district unit where the leadership was elected by secret ballot. After the successful conference at Bogra, he encouraged other district units to democratically elect their leaders.
In 2007, action was taken against Tariq Rahman during Moin-Fakhruddin.
According to the party's website, “persons in charge of government offices at the time said that the caretaker government officials had forced officials of various departments, including the Anti-Corruption Commission, to file false charges against Rahman.”
At that time, his mother Begum Zia was arrested and tortured to force her to leave the country. Later he had to go abroad for better treatment.'
Tariq Rahman was elected Senior Vice-Chairman of BNP in 2009. In 2018, when Begum Khaleda Zia was imprisoned, she was named acting chairperson of the party.
In 1994, Tarek Rahman, the daughter of late Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, former Bangladesh Navy chief and two-time minister of the next government. Married Jobaida Rahman. Zobayda Rahman is a cardiologist and studied at Dhaka Medical College. The only child of this couple is Barrister Zaima Jarnaz Rahman. He is now studying in London.
Incidentally, last August, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, 'Tareek Rahman will return to the country soon.'
